Autism Expressed, Raise Labs and scrible were all finalists at the Milken-Penn GSE business plan competition held in May. (See piece here.) All the Design Studio participants agree to spend six months in the program. They will receive $10,000 for participating (and any additional prize money that they win. For instance, Raise Labs snapped up $75K at the May competition.)

The university program is a $2.1 million "hybrid incubator-and-seed-fund." It will nurture startups, aiming to increase the success rate for start-up and early stage ventures by connecting the startups with research; giving them opportunities to try out their products in Philadelphia classrooms and local companies; and connecting the entrepreneurs to relevant research at the university.

The effort is the brainchild of Dr. Barbara ("Bobbi") Kurshan, a long-time education technology investor and executive, and formerly the executive director of nonprofit Curriki. (Editor's note: Kurshan also advises EdSurge.)

The cohort officially begins on Sept. 23.

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